-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A bride is in mourning .

Hours after the wedding , groom William Riley Knight , 49 , of Crown Point , Indiana , was struck and killed .

His new wife , Nikki Knight , was not injured .

`` I went from a being a newlywed to a widow in less than 48 hours â $ '' the highest high to the lowest low , '' she told the Chicago Sun-Times on Sunday . `` It 's a blur . ''

They had just left their reception , according to Patti Van Til , a spokeswoman with the Lake County , Indiana , Sheriff 's Department .

Nikki was still in her wedding dress , she said .

Knight was acting as a good Samaritan on Saturday night when he stopped to assist Linda Darlington , whose vehicle had slid into a ditch along a road in Crown Point . He climbed out to help while his wife waited in the car .

`` He said , ` We 've got to stop , it 's late and they need help , ' '' Nikki , a registered nurse , told the Chicago newspaper .

`` He was the type of person who was willing to put himself on the line and support you no matter what , '' she said .

Her husband and Darlington , 42 , were struck multiple times as they stood by the side of the road . They were first hit by one vehicle , followed by two more . Darlington was also killed .

According to CNN affiliate WBBM , which spoke to Knight 's ex-wife , he had four children , including two stepchildren .

He acted in community theater , was a hunter and reportedly served in the U.S. Army Rangers before retiring in the mid-1990s .

`` He was very outgoing , always wanting to help somebody , '' said friend Rob Biella , CNN affiliate WLS reported . `` He was good to be around my kids . I 'm glad they got to know him . ''

All drivers remained on scene , and there is nothing to suggest that alcohol was a factor in the crash , according to Van Til .

The accident remains under investigation .

`` He was just trying to do a good thing for somebody in need , '' the spokeswoman said .

`` It 's very sad . We have a job to do here , but sometimes it just brings you sadness . ''

Bride loses her groom and her leg , but not her faith

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NEW : `` I went from a being a newlywed to a widow in less than 48 hours , '' wife says

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William Riley Knight stopped to help a woman whose vehicle had slid into a ditch

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He and Linda Darlington were struck multiple times as they stood by the side of the road